An Abuja Federal High Court has ruled that a
suspected 'online' terrorist, Muktar Ibrahim [aka Abu
Sabaya], who supports the activities of the Boko
Haram sect on the Internet, must answer charges of
terrorism brought against him by the Federal
Government.
The court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole,
while dismissing a no-case submission filed by the
accused person, ordered that he should be remanded in
prison pending the determination of his case.
The accused person was described by the prosecution as
an online personality, who was celebrating the bombing
campaigns of the Boko Haram sect on a jihadist website
while also soliciting funds from international terrorists
groups to fund the activities of the sect in Nigeria.
Ibrahim, a First Class graduate of Mechanical
Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
was said to have registered his email address –banatsuad1@yahoo.com – on a jihadist website to post
messages on the activities of Boko Haram in the
country, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism
Prevention Act, 2011.
Some of the messages said to have been posted by
Ibrahim on the website in February 2012 read "…is
there any way we can help the mujahahiden in
Nigeria by AMEF projects? We are ready to release
videos, statement and other material to support our
brothers in Nigeria."
The Federal Government said the post was a message
preparatory to an act of terrorism, an offence contrary to
section 1[1] [a] of the Terrorism [Prevention] Act, 2011
and punishable under section 33 [1] [a] of the same Act.
On or about June 16 2011, Ibrahim was said to have
posted a message that read,
"The wind of rage has been unleashed upon the
battalion of the tawaghit and all their allies in
Nigeria. In a successful attack, a severe attack and
damage at the heart of the security apparatus of
the Nigerian government, the Muwahhidin, with
the assistance of Allah, were able to deal a great
blow to the government and also to prove to their
masters in the White House that our call is based
upon actions rather than speech.
"Many Nigerians were very happy about the blast
because they are frustrated by the tyranny of the
tawaghit and their hijacking of the country's
resources for their selfish interests.
"This attack is indeed a success because prior to
the attack the Nigerian Police Force on behalf of
the Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim,
boasted and he vowed that the days of the
Muhahhidin in Nigeria are numbered. Little did
he know that the Muhahhidin are on their way to
his palace in Abuja."
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.